Virginia Beach Surf Kayakers
VBSK Paddler Spotlight

Current VBSK Spotlight:  Glen Thompson      
Age:  50         
Joined VBSK:  January 28, 2004
 Occupation:  Lawyer (Pender & Coward)
Growin Up:  Grew up on the South Shore of Long Island and began surfing at Gilgo Beach at the age of 12. Went to college at the University of Rhode Island and lived there for 6 years, foolishly surfing in the winter at some great point breaks. Then went to law school at the University of Oregon surfing when I could get to the coast, before moving to Tidewater.


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VBSK: How long of you been paddle surfing?
Glen:  I've been paddlesurfing for about 11 years, and wave ski surfing the past eight years.


VBSK:  What type of paddle craft do you ride? (ie - craft(s), manf, model, length, width, color...other)

Glen:  I presently surf either my older 9 foot Island waveski, or my 8'6" Island G-Force waveski.  My first experiences with paddle surfing were with an Ocean Kayaks Frenzy, and then a Yak-Board. 
 
 
VBSK:  Where is your favorite surfing spot (locally and overal)l?
Glen:  In the past my favorite local spot was S-turns at Sandbridge, now its wherever the VBSK crew decides to go out since Virginia Beach is mainly beach breaks which can vary from year to year.  However, I have had some really good sessions at Fourth Street, especially when the jetty blocks a south wind.  I also love to go to the Outer Banks to drive on the beach and find that perfect uncrowded spot.
 
VBSK:  How did you become involved with paddle surfing? (please elaborate)
Glen: I got into paddlesurfing because of a very bad knee.  When I was in my 20's my knee got so bad that I could no longer make the transition from lying on the surfboard to standing up, so I thought , "Why not start standing up ?" and then began windsurfing. After about 15 years my knee couldn't take the really good days of windsurfing so I bought the Frenzy to see if paddling in surf would be any fun.
 
VBSK:  What's your most memorable paddle surfing experience? (brief story or awards earned - try to frame the moment!)
Glen:  The pure adrenalin rush of a big day can last for a week, and you can get really frustrated when you try to explain it to someone who doesn't surf. But one of my most satisfying days occurred last September.  Lauren and I went out at Sandbridge at dawn, It was 3-4 foot clean waves with a light offshore breeze and she was starting to really get the hang of catching waves on her own.  It became a little crowded with surfers but everyone was in a really good mood.  A pod of dolphins swam in the middle of the lineup and did a few aerial acrobatics before an appreciative crowd, when our attention was drawn to a very large splash about a quarter of a mile offshore.  It was a juvenile humpback whale feeding by lunging straight up with its mouth wide open.  The whale proceeded to continue feeding for about the next 20 minutes before it disappeared as quickly as it first appeared.  It was the highlight of what was already a great day, and I got to share it with my daughter.
 
VBSK:  What do you enjoy most about paddle surfing?
Glen:  It's the fountain of youth, and the best stress release I know.  When I'm out in the water, all of my senses remind  me of all of the familiar sights, sounds and feelings that I've known surfing since I was 12 years old.  All of my land based concerns disappear and my only thought is to scan the horizon for the next wave.  Plus when my knee was really bad (it was replaced last winter). I had a sense of freedom and unrestricted painless movement that I didn't have on land.

 


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VBSK:  Where do you see the future of paddle surfing?
Glen:  I believe that paddle surfing will always be a small niche sport, but that is not a bad thing.  I think a lot of older stand up surfers will start to take notice of all the fun we are having. I am thrilled to see the number of waveskis increase, because I believe that a waveskis similarity to a surfboard will make paddle surfing in general more acceptable to the board surfers.  The real challenge is to get young enthusiastic paddle surfers to promote the sport.  Lauren is doing her part and has gained the respect of her surfing friends.
 
VBSK:  What is your opinion on the battle of supremacy between surf kayaks and waveskis?
Glen: Although I believe that there are natural advantages to a waveski over a kayak, we are both such small niche sports that we really have more in common, when compared to the great numbers of board surfers out there.  (Sorry Jerry-we'll just have to spar over a beer this winter -but there are those issues about skirts and looking like a legless gorilla trying to make its way back into the water).
 
VBSK:  Any advice to beginner paddle surfers?  
Glen:  Locally my advice to beginners is to ask any VBSK member to help.  It wasn't until Don, Jim and Aaron got their waveski's that I realized that my trial and error experiences would be useful to someone just starting with a waveski.  My other advice is to start with a stable  boat or waveski, that you might think is too big and then work your way down to the latest high performance model.  You'll have more fun.

 


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VBSK: Do you know any good, maybe local Virginia Beach Surf Kayaking clubs. If so, would you care to say a few good words about that club!?  
Glen: VBSK is a great way to meet other persons suffering from the same salt water sickness that you thought you were the only one to experience.  You no longer feel guilty searching Surfline and Boatertalk at work when you know that there are others out there that are doing the exact same thing, and also knowing that we all envy Jim Sheil because he can go out at any time without feeling guilty.

 


Archive Spotlights:

Jerry Singer

 

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